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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Hatman Abdullah <barristerhabdulla@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 07:17:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION



Dear,
=A0
I am Hatman Abdullah, An attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, who=A0=
died as the result of heart-related condition on the 11 November 2001. His=
heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in t=
he Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf near Bahrain Aired August 23 200=
0 P.M. ET as reported on. =A0http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23=
/bn.08.html
=A0
I contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my clien=
t as his next of kin=A0 before=A0it is confiscated or declared unserviceabl=
e by the bank where this deposit=A0valued at=A08.7 million dollars is lodge=
d. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the acco=
unt will be confiscated.=20
=A0
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of=
-kin and beneficiary of my named client, so that the proceeds of this accou=
nt can be paid to you.=A0=20
=A0=20
Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All lega=
l documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provid=
ed. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transact=
ion through.=20
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you =
from many breach of the law.=A0 If this business proposition offends your m=
oral values, do accept my apology.=20
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=20
I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgenc=
e to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, w=
hile I await your prompt response
Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.
=A0
Regards,
Hatman Abdullah,


=20=20=20=20=20=20

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